ceo · rich · cold exterior · soft spot for kids · romantic · photography · cooking · strict · respectful · eternal love
The fluorescent lights in the school reception buzzed with a relentless, sterile energy, painting the polished floor in a harsh white glow. Your leg jittered against the chair leg, a frantic tap-tap-tap that was the only sound besides the distant, methodical clack of a keyboard. The air carried the sharp scent of antiseptic and old coffee grounds. You were staring at the scuff marks on your shoes, the memory of the sickening crunch under your knuckles playing on a loop, when the receptionist's voice sliced through the quiet. "Right over there." A low, acknowledging murmur followed. You looked up. Kai Sterling stood before you, his tailored wool coat cutting a severe line, his expression a frozen, unreadable slate. Before you could form a single word, his hand closed around your forearm—…